Murphy's Multiverse

Author: Joseph Aberl

  • CONFIRMED: ‘The Flash’ Director to Tackle DCU’s New Batman

    CONFIRMED: ‘The Flash’ Director to Tackle DCU’s New Batman

    The Flash has had a rough development cycle throughout the last few years, but it still managed to put Andy Muschietti on Warner Bros. Discovery’s radar as someone that can tackle a good slew of projects. As first reported by One Take News, he has seemingly also nabbed the job to direct the new DC Cinematic Universe’s Batman movie, The Brave and the Bold inspired by the iconic comic storyline of the same name.

    DC Studios presidents James Gunn and Peter Safran shared the following statement on adding him to their new slew of directors.

    We saw The Flash even before taking the reins at DC Studios, and knew we were in the hands of not only a visionary director but a massive DC fan. It’s a magnificent film – funny, emotional, thrilling – and Andy’s affinity and passion for these characters and this world just resonates through every frame. So, when it came time to find a director for The Brave and the Bold, there was really only one choice. Luckily, Andy said yes. Barbara signed on to produce with us and we were on our way. They’re an extraordinary team, and we couldn’t have better or more inspiring partners as we embark on this thrilling new adventure in the DCU .

    James Gunn and Peter Safran

    There currently is no writer attached, but that isn’t too surprising given that the WGA strike is still going on. Interestingly enough, Christina Hodson was at one point attached but decided to tackle the eleventh Fast and Furious film. For now, they may have attached a director but it seems unlikely that they’ll get the project moving until the writer’s strike wraps up.

    Source: One Take News, The Hollywood Reporter

  • ‘The Flash’ Losing Momentum as ‘Elemental’ Fizzles Out on Opening Weekend

    ‘The Flash’ Losing Momentum as ‘Elemental’ Fizzles Out on Opening Weekend

    It’s not looking too good for Warner Bros. Discovery’s ambitious direction with The Flash. They were all-in by not even promoting most of their DC line-up ahead of the DC Cinematic Universe revival. all their chips were set in the film that was mired with controversies due to its leading star, Ezra Miller, being caught in a slew of criminal acts. Now, the film has finally been released after a nine-year-long production hell and sadly, it’s not keeping up with what CEO David Zaslav may have hoped for.

    After a decent take of $9.7M in previews, the film opened to around $24.5M on Friday, which includes those previews. While the film is very likely still take the top spot, it doesn’t seem like the film might hit the hoped $85M over the weekend. It’s heading towards a similar opening to 2022’s Black Adam and 2018’s Aquaman. Though the latter had the holiday season to rack up more at the box office than the former.

    The film went all-in with a multiverse storyline, nostalgia bait with Michael Keaton back as Batman after 31 years, and Snyderverse callbacks like the return of Michael Shannon’s Zod. Most of the promotion mostly ignored Miller and primarily used the rest of its cast to promote the team. Yet, the big issue is the B CinemaScore, which puts it lower than Black Adam and Shazam! Fury of the Gods.

    Audiences have become quite a bit pickier in their cinematic flair. So, just doing the usual won’t keep you strong at the box office. Even Marvel isn’t safe as Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania pulled in a similar CinemaScore but seems to have a bigger life once it hit streaming. After training audiences that release windows are quite a bit shorter, they are willing (especially families) to wait it out if there’s not something that keeps them coming back.

    Deadline believes the film is heading to a likely $60M 3-day opening, which is even further away from the lower expectations the films had. It could use the Juneteenth holiday to grow to $70M over 4 days but that is even lower than what an Ant-Man film managed in its opening weekend earlier this year. Perhaps billing this film as “the greatest superhero movie ever made” has greatly backfired with the film having a low PostTrak exit of only 59% recommendation.

    That isn’t the only depressing news, as Elemental isn’t looking much better either. It’s likely not going to open above $30M, as it currently is projected to hit $28.5M over three days. It likely not even outpace Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse going into its third weekend. Estimates did, however, expect an opening around that size. It did get an A CinemaScore and people seem to love it. So, perhaps it can make up for it in upcoming weekends similar to some of Pixar’s earliest releases.

    Surprisingly, it seems that this weekend is generally not a good one for cinemas. Transformers: Rise of the Beasts has dropped considerably in its third weekend, as it currently stands to drop 68%, which could rival any of the biggest superhero drops throughout the last few years. It is ahead of Transformers: The Last Knight slightly, but it’s unclear if it might even break $130M in cinemas.

    Source: Variety, Deadline, The Wrap

  • ‘The Flash’ Director on How He Approached DC Film’s VFX

    ‘The Flash’ Director on How He Approached DC Film’s VFX

    The Flash has just hit theaters this week after a long wait. Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav hailed it as the best superhero film he’s ever seen. They had a variety of big names like Tom Cruise and Stephen King openly sharing their love for the film. Yet, it still has hit a rather surprising mixed reception from the internet with the VFX becoming a hot topic online.

    In an interview with Gizmodo, director Andy Muschietti had a chance to discuss his approach to establishing a unique view from someone that is moving at a speed that would distort light and texture. While one can discuss if he managed to do what he was aiming for, it definitely stirred some discussions online.

    The idea, of course, is…we are in the perspective of the Flash. Everything is distorted in terms of lights and textures.

    Andy Muschietti

    There’s been a big discussion point surrounding VFX for quite some time, especially when it came to some of the latest Marvel Studios releases. People have nitpicked quite a few films based on one or two sequences as a standard of quality for an entire production. So, some may have very different experiences with these projects and there are some VFXs that may be perceived as “bad” as a result of how one can perceive effects. Either way, it seems this discussion point isn’t going away anytime soon.

    Source: Gizmodo

  • Netflix’s TUDUM a First Offers Look at Live-Action ‘One Piece’ Props and Luffy’s Outfit

    Netflix’s TUDUM a First Offers Look at Live-Action ‘One Piece’ Props and Luffy’s Outfit

    It’s been al ong road since Netflix’s live-action One piece series started filming. Hell, it#s been many more years since we first heard from Eiichiro Oda that they started working on the project back in 2017. After almost 5+ years, we may finally get our first look at Netflix’s current TUDUM event. Luckily, some managed to find their way unto the event area and shared some of the props that are being showcased.

    The big reveal is our first full look at Monkey D. Luffy’s costume that Inaki Godoy wears in the live-action adaptation. We even get a good look at the shoes that Luffy will wear, which is, so far, the only real departure from his original adaptation. Funny enough, many feared it was quite a departure from his free-spirited approach, but they are seemingly just easy to slip in that would still keep that design alive.

    He is also joined by the Marine outfit that leaked some time ago and was our first look at how truly close to the original adaptation this series is going to be. Though, it’s the various props that are definitely eye-catching.

    We get a good look at Zoro’s iconic Wado Ichimonji and the two swords that play an integral part in his battle against Mihawk. Buggy’s flag seems quite similar to what we see in the manga and Usopp’s slingshot seems directly adapted from the original source material. The telescope seems to be something that might belong to Nami, but there might be more pieces that have yet to find their way online.

    There’s also a fun little addition for the event specifically, which is a little replica of the Going Merry as shared by @OnePieceNxBr. It’s not as detailed as the original and continues to add to the “he’s screaming” joke from fans, but it’s definitely great to see the effort put into this event to bring fans closer to these major new additions to the streaming service. It certainly looks like they are all-in with One Piece and we hope there’s a lot more to see.

    Source: Twitter

  • ‘Mortal Kombat 2’ Finds its Shao Kahn as Many Familiar Faces Return

    ‘Mortal Kombat 2’ Finds its Shao Kahn as Many Familiar Faces Return

    It looks like the sequel to 2021’s Mortal Kombat has been quite busy casting throughout the last few months, as they are unveiling a slew of new characters joining the upcoming sequel. Surprisingly, we also finally have some news on who is set to return from the first film, which was surprisingly kept quiet up until this point even with the massive cast that the film had. Let’s kick it off with the big additions with some familiar names.

    We already know that Karl Urban, Tati Gabrielle, and Adeline Rudolph have joined the cast. Now, we’ve also learned that Martyn Ford will play the one and only Shao Kahn. Desmond Chiam will take on the role of Kiong Jerrod. while Ana Thu Nguyen and Damon Herriman are playing Sindel and Quan Chi respectively. It looks like we’re about to see many more faces from beyond the Earthrealm in the upcoming sequel.

    They are joining an already massive cast with Lewis Tan’s Cole Young, Jessica McNamee’s Sonya Balde, Mehcad Brooks as Jax, Ludi Lin’s Liu Kang, Chin Han’s Shang Tsung, Max Huang as Kung Lao, and Tadanobu Asano’s Lord Raiden. Surprisingly, there’s mention that Joe Taslim is also going to return as Bi-Han in the sequel, but there’s no mention if we might see Kuai Liang in the sequel.

    They also mention Josh Lawson’s Kano as part of the cast, as the character also faced an untimely end in that film. There’s no mention of Mileena or Kabal appearing in the sequel, but there’s still a chance they could appear if they introduce Revenants. Hiroyuki Sanada is also going to once again play Scorpion, who was the highlight in the 2021 release.

    Source: The Hollywood reporter

  • Illumination Head Denies Recent ‘The Legend of Zelda’ Rumors

    Illumination Head Denies Recent ‘The Legend of Zelda’ Rumors

    Not too long ago, there was a rumor circulating that Illumination and Nintendo were already setting their eyes on the next franchise to adapt. While most assumed we’d be seeing more from Super Mario Bros., the rumor hinted that Nintendo might be hoping to also work with the animation company to adapt one of their other iconic franchises, The Legend of Zelda.

    Studio head Chris Meledandri got a chance to denounce the rumors in an interview with The Wrap and offers some insight into why he believes the rumor made the rounds. Mostly his close ties with Nintendo and the success of working on The Super Mario Bros. Movie that people naturally make the assumption that they’d jump into any project they might want to animate.

    I don’t know where that came from. I mean I can understand how people would surmise all sorts of things because obviously, we’ve had a great experience working together. My relationship with Nintendo now includes being on their board of directors, so I understand how people can surmise these things. But in terms of the specifics, that was just something that I’ve been hearing lots of reports. This is just about what’s next between Nintendo and Illumination.

    Chris Meledandri

    There was some concern that the rumor ended up true. Illumination’s animation style meshed quite well with a character like Mario, whose variety of projects offers them to establish their own take on the character while staying true to the source material. The Legend of Zelda simply wouldn’t mesh well with the way they tackle their projects, even if they’d go with a take inspired by the character’s more chibi designs from the earliest days.

    Source: The Wrap

  • RUMOR: ‘Silent Hill 2’ Remake Eyeing a September 2023 Release

    RUMOR: ‘Silent Hill 2’ Remake Eyeing a September 2023 Release

    We’ve had some big reveals throughout the gaming summer. Quite a few major remakes are heading our way with Metal Gear Solid Detal: Snake Eater, Persona 3 Reload, and more. Yet, there was a noticeable lack of a confirmed remake of Silent Hill 2 by production studio Bloober Team. There have been quite a few questions surrounding the production since the first reveal trailer and their promise to only update the fighting system. Now, a new rumor might have given us our first hint at the game’s release date.

    Pre-order listings by the Australian retailer Gorilla Gaming may have given away that Bloober Team is hoping to release the game at some point later this year. It includes a listing that states the game will release on the 29th of September, which would perfectly position it before the month of Halloween; a popular release window for horror games.

    Of course, there’s always a chance they have simply just added a release date as a placeholder. They may have guessed that they’d release before October given the popularity of the release window, but it’s definitely interesting that the listing exists to begin with as they usually get some details ahead of reveals. Yet, we don’t know when we can expect the next showcase of the game, as there hasn’t been much development and Summer of Gaming is wrapping up.

    There’s also the Silent Hill sequel film that is supposedly releasing at some point this year. We haven’t heard anything on it since the confirmation as part of the big Silent Hill showcase. They may just drop a trailer randomly to hype up when we can expect the release, and it wouldn’t be surprising if they release the horror film around the same time as the game to make good use of the synergy.

    Source: GameRant

  • Christopher Lloyd, Cary Elwes, and More Join ‘Sonic the Hedgehog’s Knuckles Spinoff

    Christopher Lloyd, Cary Elwes, and More Join ‘Sonic the Hedgehog’s Knuckles Spinoff

    Still hard to believe that we’re discussing a spinoff series from a successful Sonic the Hedgehog franchise. Not just that, we’re getting more time with a character like Knuckles the Echidna, who was only just introduced in the latest movie of the franchise. The Paramount+ original has been busy filming and it looks like the Idris Elba-led project has unveiled five new cast members.

    Variety has unveiled that the series has added not one but five new members to its cast. The biggest additions are the Back to the Future icon Christopher Lloyd, who has been busy with a variety of TV show appearances such as the last season of The Mandalorian. He’ll be joined by The Princess Bride’s Cary Elwes, Grease’s Stockard Channing, Rob Huebel of Bob’s Burgers fame, and Veep‘s Paul Scheer.

    They also join guest stars Tika Sumpter, who reprises her role as Maddie, and Rory McCann. Naturally, Elba is back to voice the leading role but there’s no word on who exactly the cast members might be playing. It’ll follow the story of Knuckles taking Wade under his wing to teach him what it means to be an Echidna warrior. Sadly, we don’t know if we’ll see other characters from Sonic the Hedgehog‘s gaming universe.

    Sonic the Hedgehog 2 writer John Whittington is behind the pilot and also serves as a head writer on the series. He was supported by Brian Schacter and James Madejski to continue Knuckles’ story beyond the major film release from last year. Of course, Jeff Fowler, who tackled both films, is also returning as an executive producer while also directing the pilot episode.

    Source: Variety

  • ‘Spider-Man’ Spinoff Starring Bad Bunny’s Seemingly Still Happening

    ‘Spider-Man’ Spinoff Starring Bad Bunny’s Seemingly Still Happening

    You might remember some time ago that the studio behind Morbius announced that they are adapting another iconic Marvel character for the silver screen. While many might have gone through a slew of Spider-Man characters, no one very likely didn’t think it would end up being El Muerto. The character had only a tiny role in the comics and seemed like the last character anyone would expect to get their own film.

    Overall, it seems a big push is from singer and actor Bad Bunny, who wants to portray the character in the Sony film. Most expected that the film may lose steam quite a bit and with the WGA strike, they may have just postponed the production indefinitely. Surprisingly though, Collider is reporting that the film may very likely start production in August.

    We don’t know if this film might be more of a standalone project and just hint at the wider universe. It would seem rather bizarre to include this character as part of a Sinister Six that was teased during Morbius. We don’t know if Venom might also tie into this universe given that a third film is on the horizon, which may potentially even be a final entry for Tom Hardy’s time with the franchise.

    Source: Collider

  • ‘One Piece’ Live-Action Cast Unite Ahead of Netflix’s TUDUM Event

    ‘One Piece’ Live-Action Cast Unite Ahead of Netflix’s TUDUM Event

    This weekend will mark the first time we might finally see the live-action One Piece series. There have been theories on what we might see outside of potentially some new posters to an actual trailer. While the manga’s creator, Eiichiro Oda, highlighted that they won’t go live without his say-so, it’s still set for a 2023 release. So, this weekend would be the perfect time to reveal a release date.

    While we still wait it out for a few more days, it seems that the One Piece crew has come together ahead of the event, as Mackenyu Arata, who plays Zoro in the series, shared a new image. Funny enough, this is likely the first time we’ve seen the entire cast together in one image as there was a running gag of no one knowing where Mackenyu is during production.

    Alongside the enthusiastic team behind-the-scenes, the cast is one major reason to be quite hopeful that this series might be among the great adaptations. They have been quite enthusiastic and even the first video of them interacting for the show has shown that they are quite fitting for their individual roles. Here’s hoping the wait to see them interact isn’t too far away now.

    Source: Instagram